The hidden risks inside drug-laced vapes

Synthetic substances added to vape liquids may be difficult to spot, leaving young users especially vulnerable.

A vape may look ordinary, but experts warn its liquid could contain nicotine, psychoactive substances or even synthetic drugs.KUALA LUMPUR:

 At first glance, the video looked like countless other social media livestreams involving young people and vape devices.

Then the behaviour of the two men in the clip began to change. One appeared dazed; the other was barely responsive.

Viewers quickly speculated that they had used “piu-piu” or “piao-piao” – street names for a synthetic substance reportedly being mixed into vape liquids.

The video, which went viral in May, highlighted an unsettling development in Malaysia’s drug landscape. Illegal substances no longer need to come in recognisable pills, powders or plant material – they can be concealed inside an ordinary-looking vape device and inhaled without those nearby realising what is happening.

Selangor police have warned that the effects of piu-piu may be felt after only a few puffs. Possible consequences include hallucinations, seizures, breathing difficulties, heart complications, addiction and severe withdrawal symptoms.

These products are relatively easy to hide and may be sold cheaply through social media, placing them within reach of teenagers and young adults.

Unlike cannabis or ketum, piu-piu is not plant-based; the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) describes it as a synthetic substance made from a combination of chemicals and added to vape liquid.

Its name is believed to refer to the sensation of floating or drifting experienced by users.

Some formulations may also contain fentanyl, according to former deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay. Their hallucinatory effects can leave users looking detached from their surroundings or, as the authorities have described it, in a “zombie-like” state.

Part of the concern lies in the vape device itself. Often presented as modern, stylish and socially acceptable, for many young people, vaping may seem less threatening than conventional cigarettes or illicit drugs.

But this appeal can disguise what’s actually inside the liquid. A cartridge may contain high levels of nicotine, psychoactive substances or synthetic drugs, yet look no different from one containing ordinary vape flavouring.

Changing chemical formulations make the contents even harder to identify. This shift has complicated the way families, schools and authorities recognise drug use.

“In the past, drugs were often associated with crime. Today, they are being used through vape products that are perceived as part of a lifestyle,” said Dr Khairunesa Isa of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.

This perception, she said, may lead young people to underestimate the dangers of synthetic drugs or assume that vape products are harmless.

AADK figures show that synthetic drugs account for 73% of drug abuse cases in Malaysia, with those aged between 15 and 39 make up about 84% of those involved.

Young people may be particularly vulnerable because adolescence is a period in which identity, belonging and peer acceptance carry enormous weight. A desire for approval may push a young person to experiment with drugs or vaping simply to fit in.

Khairunesa said the issue should therefore be viewed as part of a wider ecosystem involving families, schools, friends and digital media, rather than being blamed on one individual or a single cause.

Social media adds another layer, where repeated images of vaping, intoxication or risky behaviour can paradoxically make these activities appear common, entertaining or harmless.

How synthetic substances affect the brain

Apart from the risk of addiction, pychoactive substances can interfere with the areas of the brain involved in judgement, self-control and decision-making. These functions normally help a person pause, assess danger and consider the consequences before acting.

“When these functions are impaired, individuals become more likely to act based on emotional impulses or immediate stimulation without considering the consequences,” said Dr Engku Mardiah Engku Kamarudin, deputy president of the Malaysian Association of Drug Abuse Counsellors.

For instance, a person under the influence may drive recklessly, become involved in a fight, harm themselves, or take risks they would ordinarily avoid.

Hallucinations and delusions can make the situation even more dangerous by distorting reality. A user may react to threats that do not exist or become convinced that something untrue is happening.

Adolescents may face greater risks because the parts of the brain responsible for impulse control and long-term decision-making are still developing.

“The combination of an immature brain and the effects of synthetic drugs can further increase the likelihood of them making decisions that put themselves at risk,” she said.

Tighter laws, sales controls and closer monitoring of supply chains could help reduce young people’s access to vape products and drug-laced liquids. But reducing supply does not fully address why a teenager might try them.

Curiosity, peer pressure, emotional stress, family problems and limited health knowledge may all play a part, compounded by the gradual normalisation of vaping in daily life.

Any restrictions should, therefore, be supported by stronger education, greater awareness among parents and teachers, practical life-skills programmes and accessible help for those already affected.

Young people also need the confidence to question what they are offered and walk away from situations that feel unsafe. Close relationships with parents, teachers and a strong support network can all make those choices easier.

“Research has shown that the more protective factors an adolescent has, the lower the risk of engaging in risky behaviours, including drug abuse,” Engku Mardiah said.

Early intervention matters as well: help should be available before occasional experimentation develops into dependency.

“The most effective step is to prevent someone from starting drug use in the first place, rather than waiting until they develop an addiction,” she stressed.

Ultimately, as drug use changes, prevention must change with it. The danger may now arrive in sleek packaging, sweet flavours and a device small enough to slip into a pocket – but the consequences can be far more serious than they appear.